Losing Love

Bait and Switch

What in the Sam hill?!

Imagine my surprise when I popped open this just bought Signature Select tube of pizza dough!

It's bad enough the cost of these have sky rocketed but to then trim the dough by a couple inches is a dirty trick.

So disappointed with being forced to cook and eat a miniature pizza, alas...

Dine and Dash...

Well, the deer are getting bolder and bolder these days.  Not sure if it's the onset of winter and their need to bulk up or the fact that I've not been actively chasing them off when I see them around.  At this time of the year I don't mind them eating my plants, as there will be that much less that I need to cut back as a part of my fall cleanup.  However, spring time when the perennials are popping up and I start planting my garden, I do NOT want these critters around.

The other exception to the above is STAY AWAY FROM MY MUMS! Alas, as you can see they did not listen and instead ate most of the beautiful flowers off all three of my mums.

Before and looking terrific - 

After their late night or early morning snack time -

Here is further evidence for those doubter.  Yes, kinda hard to make out unless you know what your looking at -

More of the same -

While eating my mums why not eat or at least try some of these other salad bar looking plants - 

Even my hydrangeas, alas -

Again, my tolerance level is higher at this time of the year and I do wish them well for the upcoming New England winter, BRRRRRRR

Splinter Ouchies!

Back in early September, when I was mowing the lawn, I rub up against a fence post and subsequently got stabbed with a good size splinter.  Fortunately, I was wearing long pants, which minimized the ouchies!  I was able to pull the splinter out, continued mowing and thought nothing of it.  After my shower that evening I tried to assess the ouchie but since it was on the outside part of my right leg, I couldn't get at it, nor really see it; I simply don't bend that way.  I applied Neosporin and a band-aid and forgot about it.  However, over the next couple of days it swelled up, got red and was super sensitive, so much so that it was keeping me up at night. 

I thought it best to visit my local urgent care facility just to be safe.  That was back on September 7th.  The nurses and doctor were terrific, an overall great experience.  However, as nice and friendly, and being a jokester as the doctor was, all he did was look at the wound and ever so gently pressed the area, then claimed he didn't think there was anything in there, that it was infected, put me on antibiotics for a week and instructed me to soak in the tub.

Fast forward to October 21, YES 44-days later, and see what I pulled out of the wound, picture above!  I kid you not! After all this time the wound was not healing and although not sensitive any longer I did occasionally get a zing here and there depending on how the area was hit and that right there explains it!  

Today is the 30th and the wound is just about healed.

I'd really be pissed had my insurance not covered my visit 100%.

Fall Cleanup - Update

Here is an update to my October 3 posting labeled "Fall Cleanup"

This is the end result after cutting my ornamental grasses down.  However, this year instead of using the chainsaw I used my electric hedge clippers, which turned out to be just as effective.

All tied nice and neatly to minimize the mess, both when cutting back and when carting the clippings to the driveway.  Easy peasy now to pickup and remove.

New Front Yard Addition

I added a BIG and heavy bird bath to my front yard decor!

This bird bath has special means, as it was given to my by a friend of my parents.  She recently had to move into an assisted care facility and asked if I was interested.  Of course I  jumped at the chance, as it'll server as a nice reminder of her and adds some pizazz to the front yard. 

I gave it a good and through cleaning, so it will be ready to go come spring.  I will be turning the top piece over this weekend to prevent any freeze damage over the winter.  Once the danger is over come spring, I'll flip over and fill.

Honest To God!

Another Beauty!

The sunsets off my back deck just do NOT disappoint!

These are from the other evening, awesome!

#blessed

Shoo! Go Away! Scram!

It's that time of year, which I believe I've posted about before, where the stink bugs, boxelder bugs and ladybugs swarm and amass on my house. Here are a couple pics, which really doesn't do justice to how many of these darn things there are -

They get up under the cracks of the clapboards -

Part of the problem is doing this is they poop all over, which of course is showing and staining the clapboards, gross!  I've killed thousands, from when they first started to appear when youngsters, to now where they can fly.  However, from the looks you wouldn't guess I killed any.  They come out and cover the house on the nice sunny and warm days, otherwise they're hidden and somewhat dormant.

It's been this way every fall since I moved into the house.

A Hearty Meal

With fall upon us, nights are getting cold, which is an excellent time to break out the crock pot!

First diner made, a crock pot of delicious chili!

Oh boy, SO good!  It hit the spot, and was diner for a couple nights, then I froze the remaining for a quick meal down the road.

Next up is a new pork loin recipe I picked up last week when in Chicago.  Stay tuned...  

Well This Sucks!

It was a good thing I didn't procrastinate in getting my October inspection sticker.

I noticed this crack in my windshield yesterday, UGH!

I imagine it's only going to get worse, especially with the swings in temperatures we've started to have.  Looks like I'll be calling the insurance company this afternoon...

I Hear You!

I often see this little critter in the same general area when I'm out on my walk.  I'm sure he's there too, on the days I don't see him, just hiding perhaps.

He wasn't so stealth like on this day, as I could hear the chewing and knawing as I passed.  He was nibbling on a hickory nut without a care in the world and didn't seem bothered when I stopped to take his pic.

Winter is coming, so fatten up and stock up on nuts and berries, as they're predicting another cold one!

Good Sunday Morning!

At 5AM this mornings the moon was high in the sky and looked awesome!

I snapped this just before it dropped behind the trees.

This picture doesn't do it justice but certainly one of the pluses to rising early, even on a Sunday morning...

Back At It!

I placed my garlic order the last week of September, a 1/2 pound of German White hardneck garlic, which arrived in Friday's USPS mail - perfect timing! 

After taking a year off from planting garlic, I was back at it yesterday and planted 23 cloves in three rows.  Nice BIG and tasty looking cloves too!

They came in this nice bag with tag; (4) BIG bulbs -

Three neat piles after breaking the bulbs into cloves -

Turn and prepped the beg.  Then, I dug my three rows and placed a stake at each end -

Placed the cloves evenly apart, right side up -

And covered with soil - 

 

The next time I mow the grass, I'll spread a nice layer on top of the soil to offer some protection from the elements and coming cold and snow.

It's a waiting game now and already looking forward to July-ish when I can harvest and start cooking with!

Feed Me!

I ran out at lunch last week, to our local farm supply store, and picked up 2lbs of winter rye -

Yesterday, I prepped my big garden, then planted the seeds -

I had been doing this faithfully every fall since I started my garden, with the exception of last fall.  However, I'm back at it and come spring time, after the rye is growing good, I'll get it all tilled in to feed the soil in preparation for the veggies I'll be planting.

Sadly, I Learned This The Hard Way

💡 I Have An Idea 💡

As Popeye would say, "I can't stands no more"!

It was time to replace the ceiling light fixture in my master bedroom closet.

As you can see below, the original fixture was an old fluorescent bulb and it took some time to warm up and turn on.  All in all not too bad really, as it's been working since I bought the house back in 2000!

The new fixture looks so much better, turns on immediately when the light switch is flipped and it's SO much brighter - 

Makes a BIG difference!

It's Fall Y'All

Fall is in the air!

I picked up some terrific looking mums, and a hearty pumpkin, and have them adorning my front steps!

I also changed out my flags with fall appropriate ones.

Everything looks great.

It Sure Is :-(

It's one of the worst places in the world to be.

Where all of the love and the care and the time and connection are gone. And the only thing left is the painful attachment to a stranger that you once shared your dreams with.

Behold, Franklin Sunsets

The sunsets off my back deck have always been stunning and lately they've not disappointing.  Here are just a couple examples of what I've been privileged to enjoy this past week, have a look - 

Friday, September 30 -

Sunday, October 2 -

#blessed

Fall Cleanup

I tied up all my ornamental grasses this past Saturday.  Step 1 in cutting these all back for the winter.  Step 2 is firing up the chainsaw, then lopping them off about 6" up from the bottom.  Tying them up before cutting makes for a much easier cleanup, keeping them bundled nicely, so I can then carry them to the driveway and load them in the trailer to be taken to the recycle center here in town. Easy peasy!

Useful, Not Pressing...

Scored myself a free ironing board!  It's needs some screws tightened, an adjustment here and there, and a cleaning or perhaps a new ironing board cover, then I'll be off to the races.

Admittedly, not the greatest but since I didn't have one before this will suffice until I buy myself a new one. Ironing dress shirts, dress pants and window valences is tough when using a towel on the counter, too slippery, but works in a pinch.